Toy menagerie cage



A. BERNASCONI 2,028,377

Jan. 21, 1936.

TOY MENAGERIE CAGE Filed Aug. 3, 1955 I III Z8 Z9 I 32 31 1g 3g 3 5 43 27 E 23- T? 3 I Z3 .11

. INVENTOR BY I r ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE Adolphe Bernasconi, Rosebank, Richmond, N. Y., assignor to C. F. Mueller Company, Jersey City, N. 5., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 3, 1933, Serial No. 683,428

5 Claims. (01. 46-11) My invention relates to means for simulating enclosures or cages for animals, for example, for imitating the animal wagons employed in circuses, to furnish toys for the amusement and play of children, and the same has for its object to provide a simple and pleasing device which is formed at low cost from a blank of card board or similar material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character specified in which the enclosure thereof includes means for supporting tooth picks, matches, or similar pieces to form members simulating the usual bars for the front opening in animal cages.

Further, said invention has for its object to. provide a device of the character specified in which the blank includes a partially cut out part simulating an animal and disposed in such relation to the enclosure as to be displayed, when bent or struck up from the plane of the blank, in the completed device within the confines of the enclosure.

Further, said invention has for itsobject to provide a device of the character specified in which the portion of the blank containing the animal simulatingpart serves in the completed device as a floor for the interior of the cage dis-,

posed substantially on a level with the bottom of the front opening to shield the bottom of the enclosure and improve the appearance of the device. p

Furthen'said invention has for its object to provide a device of the character specified in which the pieces or members forming the bars for the cage are also retained in position by the bottom of the cage or enclosure.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

Tothe attainment of the aforesaid objects and I ends my invention consists in the novel features of construction,-andin the combination, connection, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a view of one form of blank constructed according to and embodying my said invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the completed device made from said blank.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section thereof on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section thereof on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, at Fig. 1 is shown a blank I 01 card board or the like, of suitable weight, from which the toy cage I ll is to be formed, as shown at Figs. 2 to 4. The blank comprises an intermediate bottom forming portion I I between the transverse lines of bends I2 and I3,

a back portion l4 between the transverse lines or 5 bends I2 and I5, a top portion I6 between the transverse lines of bends I5 and I1, and a front portion I8 at one end of the blank having a juncture with the top portion l6 along the line of bend I1. The blank includes at the opposite end an inner or false fioor portion I9 connected to the bottom portion I I by a relatively narrow securing portion having a juncture with the bottom member II along the line of bend I3 and with the portion I9 along the line or bend 2|. The mate.- rial is preferably weakened or scored along the several lines of bend I2, I3, I5, I! and 2| to facilitate bending.

The bottom portion I I has semicircular cuts 22 therein terminating at the line of bend I2 to provide wheel simulating portions 23 adapted, when the bottom II and back I4 are bent about the line. I2 into angular relation to each other, to project in the plane of the back I4 below the plane of the bottom II to form the lower half of wheels at the rear of the, enclosure, the simulation of the upper half of the wheels being preferably com pleted' by printing or otherwise applying representations thereof onthe back portion I4, as indicated at 24. The bottom II is preferably provided with a central hole 25 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The top and front portions I6 and I8 have end tabs or flaps 26 and 27 for closing the ends of the box-like enclosure to be formed by the portions II, I4, I6 and I8, the tabs 21 being provided with end portions 28 adapted to be bent along the weakened-lines of bend 29, and to be inserted into the body of the enclosure to retain the end covers in position. 7

The front portion I8 is formed with a relatively enlarged opening 30 for exposing the interior of the box-like enclosure to view when the enclosure is completed or formed and is also formed with the semicircular wheel simulating portions 3| in part projecting upwardly into the opening- 30 and in part projecting below the free edge of said front portion I8, said portions 3| being also preferably printed or otherwise decorated to represent complete wheels at the 60 front of the enclosure, as indicated at 32.

The fioor portion I9 is provided with an intermediate animal or figure simulating part 33 formed by a line of cut 34 and adapted to be struck up or bent along the weakened line of 56 bend out of the plane of said portion I9 into angular relation thereto. The portion I9 at the ends has tabs 35 adapted to be folded downwardly about the weakened lines of bend 31, and at the rear thereof has a tongue 38 adapted to be received within a slot 39 at the lower part of the back portion I4 when the blank is formed into the box-like enclosure.

The front margins of the top portion I6 and the false floor portion I9 are formed with series of holes and 4| cooperating, when the device is completed, to receive tooth picks, matches or other stick-like members, which, if desired, may be made of edible substances such as fine spaghetti, candy, etc., as indicated at 42 for forming the bars for the opening 35 at the front of the cage. The holes Ml in the false fioor I9 serve to position the lower ends of the bars 42 and maintain the same properly spaced relative to each other and against lateral movement while the bottom II serves to support thebars duly in vertical position.

To form the box-like enclosure IIJ shown, the several. portions II, I4, I6 and I8 are bent into angular relation to each other about the lines of bends I2, I5, and I! to form the box, the narrow portion 20 being bent upwardly about the line of bend E3 to engage the inner surface of the bottom part of the front portion I8 as indicated at 43'. The contacting portions 20 and @3 are secured together by a suitable adhesive or gum, applied by the manufacturer or later by the child, as desired, to either one of said portions 20 and 43. The false bottom I9 is then bent rearwardly about the line of bend 2| and the tongue 38 inserted in the slot 39, the downwardly deflected tabs 36 serving to support said fioor I9 in spaced relation to the bottom II.

The end flaps 26 are then bent downwardly over the ends of the box and the flaps 21 bent rearwardly over said flaps 36 and the ends 28 inserted to close the box at the ends. By inserting a finger or instrument through hole 25, the partially cut out animal simulating part 33 can be struck up into a vertical position within the cage Ill When the box Ill is completed the holes 40- and 4| are in aligned relation at the front of the cage for receiving the sticks 42 to form the bars for the opening 30, the size of said openings being preferably such as to frictionally engage the sticks to firmly hold the same, and the bottom I I serving also as means for preventing the sticks from-dropping out.

The device embodying my invention is produced at low cost by a simple printing, cutting, and scoring operation to form a blank capable of being formed into the completed device. The flat blank as thus formed is particularly adapted for use as a prize or advertisement in packages of food-stuffs of various kinds, the blanks occupying very little space in the packages.

The blanks may have printed thereon any desired advertising matter, and may be fabricated in quantity to simulate a number of different animals so that the collectors of such blanks can gradually acquire a toy menagerie containing a variety of caged animals. 7

Having thus described my said invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A device of the character described compris ing an enclosure including a top, side walls, bottom and a false bottom above said bottom, the front wall having an opening therein, and said top and said false bottom having holes therein contiguous to the opening in the front wall for receiving members forming bars engaging said bottom at the lower ends thereof to be supported in position thereby.

2. A device of the character described comprising an enclosure including a top, side walls, one of said side walls having an opening therein, a series of bars for said opening, a bottom, and a false bottom above said bottom, said bottom serving to support said bars in vertical position, said false bottom including means for securing the same in spaced relation to said bottom, means for maintaining the lower ends of said bars against lateral movement, and means for locking the false bottom to one of the side walls of said enclosure; said false bottom having a cut therein to provide a part simulating a figure adapted to be struck up within the confines of the enclosure.

3. A device of the character described compris ing an enclosure simulating an animal cageand including a front portion having an opening, therein, a top portion, a back portion, a bottom portion having a hole therein, and afloor-portion within the enclosure in spaced relation to said bottom portion, and having a cut therein forming a part adapted to simulate an animal and disposed to be struck up by applying pressurethereto through said hole, said top and floor portions having holes therein at the front, and bar forming members for said opening received in 1 said last named holes and adapted to be sup,-

ported at the lower ends thereof by said bottom:

portion.

l. A device of the character. described comprising a blank having lines of bend thereinproviding portions for forming an enclosure, the front one of said portions having an opening therein,. and other of said portions forming the top and bottom of said enclosure and a floor in spaced re' lation to said bottom, said top and floor portions having holes therein contiguous to said opening, for receiving members forming bars for said opening and engaging the bottom portionat the lower ends thereof to be retained in position thereby.

5. A device of the character described comprising a blank having lines of bend therein providing portions adapted to form the front, top, back and bottom of an enclosure, said frontportion having an opening therein for exposing the interior of the enclosure to view, a relatively narrow portion extending from said bottom adapted to be secured to the inner surface of said front portion below said opening to connect said bottom portion thereto and a portion at one endof the blank extending from said connecting portion forming a false fioor above said bottom portion, said false floor including means for retaining the same in spaced relation to said'bottom portion and having a cut therein to forma part simulating a figure adapted to be struck up within the enclosure, said top and saidfalse floor beingprovided along their corresponding longitudinal edges with registeringv series of bar-receiving apertures located to the rear of the. opening, in said front.

ADOLPHE BERNASCON'I. 

